Cosmic Development isn’t just about delivering exceptional IT solutions; it’s about celebrating the people who make it happen. Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on Igor Stojanov, one of our SEO specialists whose story is as inspiring as it is insightful. From his early days building Facebook fan pages to becoming a master of digital discovery, Igor’s career has been a thrilling ride through the ever-changing world of SEO. 

His story reminds us that success in this field goes beyond algorithms and keywords—it’s fueled by passion and a forward-thinking mindset. At Cosmic Development, we’re proud to have Igor on our team, and his expertise and dedication continue to elevate our digital presence.

Here’s what he had to share.

What inspired you to pursue a career in SEO, and how did your journey in the digital marketing world begin?

My journey into SEO began organically, intertwined with the rise of social media in the early 2010s. As a digital marketing enthusiast, I found myself deeply immersed in the rapidly evolving online landscape. My initial foray was managing a Facebook fan page dedicated to music, which gradually evolved into a comprehensive blog showcasing local bands and artists from the ex-Yugoslav region. This project’s success led to its further expansion into an online radio station, broadening our digital footprint.

During this growth period, I recognized the critical importance of search discoverability. The need to make the content accessible to a broader audience naturally led me to develop my initial SEO skills, focusing on optimizing the website to reach broader local audiences. This hands-on experience ignited a passion for understanding and leveraging search engines effectively.

As my interest in SEO deepened, I actively sought out various projects in the field to gain some expertise. My academic background in Computer Science provided a strong technical foundation. Moreover, the opportunity to complete an SEO Specialization at UC Davis through a scholarship was a pivotal moment, solidifying my decision to pursue SEO as my primary career path.

How has working at Cosmic Development helped you grow further professionally?

The collaborative culture at Cosmic Development has played a crucial role in expanding my skill set. As a core member of the SEO team, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with the PPC team, fostering a synergy that has deepened my understanding. This cross-disciplinary collaboration has refined my SEO expertise and broadened my perspective on how various digital marketing disciplines interconnect.

Collaboration with developers across various platforms has provided invaluable technical skills, enabling me to effectively bridge the gap between marketing strategies and their technical implementation.

Cosmic Development’s commitment to professional growth has also been integral to my personal Development. The company’s investment in my continuous education through specialized courses has ensured I remain at the forefront of SEO and PPC trends. Beyond that, the mentorship I’ve received from industry experts with decades of experience has had the most impact on my growth. Their insights have refined my strategic thinking, expanded my industry knowledge, and equipped me to tackle challenges effectively. This guidance has enhanced my decision-making and shaped my leadership style, which is focused on collaboration, innovation, and problem-solving.

What do you find most exciting about the ever-changing landscape of SEO, and how do you stay updated with the latest trends and algorithms?

The evolving landscape of SEO is incredibly dynamic, and I’m drawn to how technological advances are reshaping search strategies. The recent dip in Google’s search market share—dropping below 90% for the first time since 2015—goes beyond numbers; it points to a fundamental transformation in how users discover and interact with online content.

AI’s emergence is compelling. These updates aren’t just incremental but represent a complete reimagining of how searches operate. We’re shifting from keyword-driven results to intelligent, context-aware answers that grasp user intent at a deeper level.

This has substantial implications for SEO. Websites will need to cater to both human readers and AI systems, requiring a more precise, structured approach that balances technical accuracy and genuine user value.

Platforms like TikTok also affect search patterns among younger audiences, which calls for flexibility and insight across different channels. Staying effective in SEO means following industry leaders, attending targeted events, and maintaining an active curiosity about new technologies. 

This isn’t just about keeping up with changes – it’s about anticipating and shaping the future of digital discovery.

Can you share an example of an SEO strategy you implemented for a client that delivered outstanding results?

In the complex world of digital marketing, some projects pose more intricate challenges than others. The work with a multi-channel retailer is a clear example—success hinged on boosting online visibility while ensuring customers walked into the physical stores.

Picture a local business aiming for a strong online presence and higher foot traffic. Basic SEO alone wasn’t enough. Our first step involved improving the site’s technical foundation to ensure pages were optimized for user experience and search engines.

From there, we went beyond conventional keyword tactics. We used a semantic strategy, focusing on search intent instead of chasing high-volume terms. Detailed competitor research and local search analysis guided a plan that spoke directly to potential customers ready to act.

Treating each store location as its own environment was another vital element. We crafted hyper-local content tuned to community interests, fine-tuned Google Business Profile listings, and maintained a personal feel across all digital channels. The results were transformative. Search rankings climbed, store visits increased, and we witnessed a tangible connection between digital strategy and offline business performance. More importantly, we demonstrated that effective SEO is about understanding human behavior and creating seamless digital experiences.

What is your biggest challenge as an SEO specialist, and how do you overcome it?

As an SEO specialist, one of my primary challenges is keeping pace with ever-evolving search engine algorithms. Frequent updates—particularly from Google—require swift adjustments to maintain effective strategies. I regularly consult leading industry sources, including authoritative blogs and forums, to meet this need and attend relevant webinars. Additionally, collaborating with peers to exchange insights and best practices helps me stay ahead of emerging trends. Testing and refining strategies in real time are essential to ensure alignment with the latest algorithmic changes.

Another area of focus is managing client communication, especially when setting realistic expectations. SEO is an inherently long-term endeavor, and while clients often seek rapid outcomes, it is crucial to emphasize that substantial results require time. I prioritize transparent communication by providing consistent updates and progress reports. By clarifying the intricacies of SEO and highlighting key milestones, I help clients feel well-informed and confident of the results that well-implemented SEO techniques will provide.

Stories like Igor’s show how dedication and creativity can shape a career.

The post Exploring the World of SEO: Igor Stojanov’s Journey appeared first on Cosmic Development.

In an industry where digital transformation is constant, few people understand the nuances of growth and innovation like Mike Walton, Marketing Executive and Head of Growth at Rumble. With over 15 years of experience across dynamic sectors such as online gambling, healthcare, and web3, Mike has played a key role in helping businesses adapt and thrive in the ever-changing online landscape. Since joining Rumble, his focus has been on driving significant growth and enhancing user engagement, making him a central figure in the company’s evolution.

In this interview, Mike shares his journey to becoming a growth expert, the unique challenges of leading growth at a publicly traded company, and how Rumble is carving its place in the competitive digital media market. He also discusses the innovative strategies behind the Rumble Advertising Center and Rumble Cloud, and how these tools are designed to meet the demands of advertisers and businesses alike. Get a glimpse into Mike’s vision for Rumble’s future and his plans to keep the platform at the cutting edge of the digital revolution.

Can you share your career journey and what led you to your current Marketing Executive and Growth Expert role at Rumble?

I have over 15 years of experience driving business growth online. After earning my Business Administration degree from Concordia University, I had the opportunity to help multiple businesses evolve by bringing them into the 21st century with innovative marketing and advertising strategies. I’ve always been drawn to the most challenging and dynamic landscapes on the internet, including adult, online gambling, healthcare, and web3. In 2023, I joined Rumble as the Head of Growth, where I’ve played a pivotal role in the company’s evolution. I’m particularly attracted to fun and competitive fields where I can accelerate my learnings and implement winning strategies.

What are the key advantages and challenges you face in your role at Rumble?

One of the challenges I face as Head of Growth at Rumble is similar to what any company goes through in the first few years of being publicly traded: how do we grow? With over 15 years of experience, I’ve grown accustomed to defining growth strategies, but this is my first time working for a public company, which brings its own set of challenges. There’s more stickiness around legal messaging, financial audits, and external pressures, which actually make it fun to be part of. Being Head of Growth isn’t just about marketing or advertising—I’ve become deeply involved in Rumble’s sales team and, as an executive, I’m constantly bringing fresh ideas to the table.

Rumble has grown significantly since its launch in 2013. Since taking on the role of Growth Expert at Rumble, what specific strategies have you implemented to drive further growth and enhance user engagement on the platform?

Since joining Rumble, my focus has been on working closely with a talented team, all collectively driving toward our mission of making the internet a free and open space. It’s important to highlight that none of the growth we’ve achieved has been a solo effort; it’s a team effort to deliver an optimal experience for both users and advertisers.

That said, I’ve had direct involvement in several key areas to accelerate growth. I helped create a partner program to expand our reach, secured event speaking opportunities to build brand awareness, and updated the advertiser flow to simplify sign-up and drive conversions. Additionally, I’ve implemented tracking for lifetime value to improve our paid acquisition strategy, ensuring we’re acquiring profitable users. I also played a role in launching promotions for the Rumble Ad Center, and I’ve been involved with our tech team to enhance our ad platform, which is a key part of our business model. These initiatives, along with many others, have helped drive significant growth and boost user engagement across the platform.

How does the Rumble Advertising Center (RAC) differentiate itself from other advertising platforms in the market? 

The Rumble Advertising Center (RAC) sets itself apart by being a constantly evolving and adaptable ad solution in today’s competitive market. One of the key differentiators is the personalized support we provide to our advertisers. Each advertiser is paired with a dedicated rep, ensuring close communication to optimize performance and gather valuable feedback on any challenges or needs they have. This creates a stronger, more collaborative relationship that’s hard to find on larger platforms.

Another aspect that makes RAC unique is our flexibility. We manually review all ads, which allows us to be more open to certain messaging and promotional offers. Unlike other platforms that rely heavily on automated systems that can shadow-ban, suspend, or penalize without proper review, we take a hands-on approach, ensuring fair and accurate ad assessments.

We also offer a more focused way for advertisers to connect with a closed, engaged audience. By limiting access to our user base, we’ve made RAC the go-to avenue for reaching them. Lastly, our pricing is particularly attractive because, unlike saturated platforms like YouTube or Facebook, there’s less competition, allowing advertisers to get better value for their spending.

Can you explain the main features and benefits of the Rumble Cloud for businesses?

Rumble Cloud is essentially the backbone of rumble.com, a platform that handles millions of users every month. What’s particularly impressive about Rumble Cloud is its reliability—it consistently stays online, even in the face of constant DDoS attacks, which is a testament to its strength and resilience, especially given our uncensored approach to content. It’s important to mention, though, that while we support free expression, we never allow hate, nudity, or violence on the platform.

Another key benefit of Rumble Cloud is how it aligns with our core values, like transparency. This is especially important for businesses when it comes to understanding limitations, pricing, and performance. Businesses can trust that we offer clear, upfront information, which simplifies the decision-making process and ensures there are no surprises along the way.

What role does innovation play in maintaining Rumble’s competitive edge in the digital media landscape?

Innovation is crucial in maintaining Rumble’s competitive edge, especially in the highly competitive world of online advertising. To stand out and stay relevant, we have to be constantly evolving. As a small, nimble team, we’re never short on ideas, and our agility allows us to quickly test and implement new strategies. This ability to move fast and adapt gives us a big advantage in a space where standing still means falling behind.

Technology changes rapidly, so it’s essential that we’re always looking ahead to identify new tools and platforms that can improve advertiser performance and enhance user satisfaction. By staying on top of these changes, we ensure that Rumble continues to deliver value for both advertisers and users, keeping us competitive in the digital media landscape.

Looking ahead, what are your primary goals for Rumble’s growth and development in the next few years?

Looking ahead, my primary goal is to continue building a strong structure across Rumble’s various business units, with clear objectives that align with our long-term vision. In the next few years, I want to ensure that we have solid foundations in place in all areas, so we can scale efficiently, whether that’s through organic growth or strategic acquisitions.

I also see a big opportunity in integrating AI into our content, particularly around translations. Right now, most of our content is in English, but imagine a future where people around the world can access and enjoy authentic content in their own languages. By leveraging AI, we could really expand our global reach and make Rumble’s content accessible to everyone, no matter where they’re from.

Explore Rumble’s Success Story

Curious about how Rumble’s rise to success unfolded and the pivotal role Cosmic Development played in its growth? Our in-depth case study, available on our website, reveals how we helped achieve 35% cost savings with an innovative approach, fueling rapid growth in just a few years.

Read the Full Case Study to learn how our dedicated team solutions can drive similar success for your business!

The post Scaling Success: Mike Walton on Growth Strategies and Innovation at Rumble appeared first on Cosmic Development.

For today’s interview, we had the pleasure of sitting with Marija Djordjevic, the Human Resources and Administration Manager at Cosmic Development’s Belgrade office. Marija’s journey into the realm of Human Resources began during her university studies in economics, where she discovered a passion for understanding the complexities of human behavior within the workplace. This passion drove her to pursue various roles centered around people management and development, ultimately leading her to Cosmic Development over seven years ago.

Since then, Marija has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s culture, fostering employee satisfaction, and implementing innovative HR practices. Her dedication to making a tangible impact on employees and the organization is evident in her daily efforts to create a positive and productive work environment. Join us as we explore Marija’s experiences and perspectives, gaining a deeper understanding of the impactful world of HR at Cosmic Development.

Please share a bit about your journey and how you found your way into the field of HR.

My journey into HR began during my university years when I studied economics. Through a couple of subjects at University, we learned a lot about Human Resources Management, and I was fascinated by the complexities of human behavior and how it translates into the workplace. After graduating, I worked in various roles that involved people management and development, which naturally led me to pursue a career in HR, together with my desire to work in HR one day. When I joined Cosmic Development over seven years ago, I found an environment that valued my background and provided opportunities to grow and implement innovative HR practices.

What do you find most fulfilling about working in HR, particularly within our company?

What I find most fulfilling about working in HR at Cosmic Development is the ability to make a tangible impact on both the employees and the organization. Seeing how our initiatives contribute to employee satisfaction, productivity, and the overall positive atmosphere is incredibly rewarding.

How do you approach building a positive company culture, and what role do you believe HR and Administration Manager plays in shaping it?

Building a positive company culture and working atmosphere starts with understanding the organization’s core values and ensuring they are reflected in every aspect of the business. As an Human Resources and Administration Manager, I believe my role is one of the crucial in shaping this culture by fostering open communication and recognizing and rewarding positive behaviors. I also prioritize creating programs and policies that support work-life balance, professional development, and employee well-being. It’s about creating an environment where everyone feels valued and motivated to contribute their best.

In your opinion, what are the key qualities or skills that make a successful HR professional?

A successful HR professional needs a blend of empathy, strong communication skills, strategic thinking, and a professional but friendly approach. And before all, an HR person needs to be a good listener. It is more than important to know how employees feel about every aspect of work and the workplace, what they need to be surrounded with to make expected results and performance, or even more. Empathy is essential for understanding and addressing employee needs and concerns. Strong communication skills are necessary for effectively conveying policies, expectations, and feedback. Strategic thinking is essential for aligning HR initiatives with the overall business goals. Additionally, being adaptable and proactive in anticipating changes and challenges in the workplace is crucial.

As HR, how do you prioritize employee well-being and maintain a healthy work-life balance within the company?

Prioritizing employee well-being involves implementing policies and programs that support physical, mental, and emotional health. We offer flexible working hours, remote work options, and various activities for relaxation and fun. Additionally, we promote a culture where taking breaks and using vacation time is encouraged. Regular check-ins, feedback talks, and sessions help us stay attuned to employee needs and adjust our strategies accordingly.

The post Shaping a Positive Workplace: Marija Djordjevic’s HR Journey at Cosmic Development appeared first on Cosmic Development.

Two weeks ago we decided to address an ongoing issue in the IT community. The issue is with the remote agile teams. Many experts on the subject would say that the term “remote agile teams” is a bit contradictory, as the Agile Methodology was created for teams that share the same physical space. Therefore, can we make Agile work in the new normal? Yes, we can. By providing dedicated teams for our clients, commonly known as staff augmentation. We have more than ten years of experience in shaping remote agile teams. Furthermore, we asked our colleague Maja Dimitrovska, who is an important part of the Bookmark team, how she succeeds on a daily basis with the aforementioned issue. 

As mentioned, these are strange and challenging times to lead agile teams. Can you tell us your secret? How do you manage to keep track of everybody’s tasks on Bookmark?

We are often told to confront unexpected changes, that we need to be agile and resilient. This is most accurate, as we try to respond to the changes brought by the coronavirus pandemic. As our world turns upside down, most companies are reacting rather than responding. In times like these, business agility provides stability, a way to manage change and respond productively. 

Agile is a framework that approves professionals and companies through developing high performing teams. In an Agile environment, changes are welcome; the client is the epicenter of the work and development is aligned with business needs. Company owners need to work on “enabling the best in their employees, rather than commanding it from them”. Leaders should empower employees to be self-organized.  

Remote working entails many challenges, one of which is knowing how to always be connected with other colleagues on your team, how to maintain an overall team culture, morale and motivation, how to run engaging meetings, how to track and communicate progress within the team, how to exchange ideas and share experiences (good and bad) and, last but not least, how to help the team focus on priorities. By communicating a clear vision, encouraging frequent communication and providing clear boundaries, team members feel better connected and remain focused and productive.

No one said that leading remote agile teams was going to be easy, and just like many other leaders faced with the sudden change to virtual team environments, we are also reorganizing our activities and the way we work. Some of our activities during these challenging times are:

• Following the team’s principles
• Clear team delegation and prioritization of tasks
• Communication, communication, communication
• Daily standups with the team via collaboration tools, such as Slack or Zoom
• Random chats (one-on-one) and co-working tools (Trello, Jira)
• Short-term goals
• Ensuring qualitative results

Even though the working environment has changed, the quality and quantity of our deliverables have not. Frequently sharing our achievements with the team and further improving are our regular activities.

During this crisis, leaders need to learn new ways to care for their people. Connect with them to detect unforeseen issues, respect and value team skills, personal needs and differences, encourage them to do their work remotely with less supervision. This is the beginning of a new way of leading.

According to you, what are the benefits of using Trello for project management in an agile environment?

Task management is the core and soul of every project. First, we divide the project into smaller pieces, then decide what needs to get done and which team member to do it. Trello excels at task management and it is considered as one of the platforms that employees can learn the quickest. Tasks and projects are systematized by using a three-part hierarchy: Boards, Lists, and Cards. You can create and organize these elements in any way you want. By assigning cards to specific users, due dates and files. Trello is a fantastic Scrum and Agile solution. It’s easy to use and it works like a traditional whiteboard, in digital form. 

Boards: The flexibility of Trello boards is perfectly aligned with the Scrum framework; it gives you full visibility into project stages, roles, deadlines and assignments. After you sign up on Trello, you can create multiple boards within your personal or team workspace.

Lists: Boards contain lists, which are grouped tasks. You can choose to rename or reorder any of the lists to match your team’s current needs for the project you are working on.

Cards: The same goes for cards. You can also move the cards from one list to another with just one click. Each card may contain a description, a checklist with subtasks, additional attachments, assignees, due dates and labels. Furthermore, team members can discuss aspects of the task by commenting. Every new person added to one of the cards gets access to previous discussions.

Power-ups: You can use Trello’s power-ups to connect to the card applications like Slack, Github, Jira, Google Drive, and many more. There are many items on the list of power-ups, and this only guarantees that Trello is a tool that easily integrates into one’s workflow.

Notifications: You will never miss important developments from the tasks that you are included in; you will be updated regularly by receiving a notification.

These capabilities make Trello great in terms of flexibility and how intuitive it is to use. Trello is distinct from other tools, thanks to its simplicity. Trello project management makes a great tool, whether you need to organize a whole team’s work or just your activities.

What other project management software do you prefer?

Project management software tools have become widely popular in recent years; there are plenty of options to choose from. Some of those tools are free to use with limited features, while others with advanced copy have more functions. Some require payment after a few days of the trial period. Choosing which tool to use can be quite challenging and also engaging.

Whether you want to find a simple way to organize tasks or need a powerful, enterprise-grade system, there is a PM tool for everyone. The project management software helps project managers and teams to collaborate and meet goals on time while managing resources and costs. Functions may include task distribution, time tracking, budgeting, resource planning, team collaboration, and many more.

Choosing the right approach for managing a project is crucial for successful project delivery. The way that managers manage work is defined by techniques that you use, tools that they use, and project scope activities on which they are working.

The process of leading Agile teams can be challenging at times because there are countless moving parts and evolving processes to manage. However, it is especially difficult if you do not have the right software behind you. Project managers should choose a project management tool that best suits their management style. Choosing the right tool for managing the Agile development team has not always been an easy decision. Certain factors must be evaluated as you’re assessing/shopping for different tools:

• Agile Framework Preferences
• Collaboration Features
• Team Size
• Project Type
• Reporting
• Usability

Some of the best agile project management tools available on the market are Trello, Jira, Asana, Monday, ClickUp, Smart sheet, etc. I have worked with different project tools during the past years and I can say that when choosing the right tool, you need to make sure that the options that the toll provides are the best fit for your team and future project plans.

Currently, we are using Trello, but we are open and exploring possible solutions on the market. To organize and achieve better integration, alignment with other company teams, and cover future planned project activities, we are also considering starting using Jira. Jira is a platform that allows teams to handle issues throughout the life cycle of the problem. Jira can be tailored to fit different organizational structures and is highly customizable. Jira also works great for smaller teams, as well as larger ones. The reasons why we are considering to switch to Jira are the following main features:

• Transparency 
• Flexibility
• User Experience
• Commenting
• Cost management
• Categorization
• Custom Workflow
• Knowledge management
• Integrations

In the end, no matter which project management solution you are going for, agile tools are sure to improve the way you streamline your workflow and team productivity.

In the end, quick question (that provokes a long answer): Kanban or Scrum? Or maybe Scrumban?

Agile is an enormous umbrella term that covers several different approaches, two of which are Scrum and Kanban. Scrum and Kanban apply agile principles in their own way to empower effective delivery cycles. Scrumban is a term for a hybrid approach making use of both Scrum and Kanban principles.

Agile is all about experimentation. Scrum, Kanban or Scrumban are not competitors; they can be experiments every team should run to find their best fit. The goal of using an agile approach is to deliver more value for the business in the quickest way possible. I think it is always a good thing to experiment and implement new processes that will enhance the way the team works and how project activities are organized.

From my experience with managing teams, I would say that Scrum is great for any team that can work on incremental delivery: a product, reporting, hardware, etc. Out of the three methodologies, Scrum is probably the hardest to adopt and the most complex and strict methodology. Scrum sprints can set clear goals and deadlines, thus giving full-control to the project manager. The Scrum framework is appropriate for experienced teams working on a product or a project which is longer than a year.

Kanban gives more freedom at the start. It is the most simple and most comfortable to adopt the method. It uses a Kanban board on which it visualizes the work and the work process, ensuring that everyone in the team is on the same page. It also reveals who are the bottlenecks in the workflow without losing its flexibility in production. Kanban is a good fit for supporting and maintaining teams. I love Kanban’s way of thinking to stop starting and start finishing.

Our team is using Scrumban. It combines the benefits of both Scrum and Kanban methodologies by using Kanban’s visualization and Scrum’s systematization while not introducing extra complexity. Scrumban is flexible in production and functions pretty good in large projects. It allows teams to have the agility of Scrum and the simplicity of Kanban while requiring no role updates.

Scrumban is a good fit for smaller teams, startups and loyal teams bringing more efficiency and freedom, teams who manage projects and work alongside keeping the business operational. Like in the process of choosing the right tool to manage the project team activities, the same approach should be used for adopting new agile methods or implementing changes in current that are used. Research each agile method, rescan the processes and bottlenecks in the team activities and then decide what you will implement as a new process for the Team. Strategies need to be revised and will be a matter of change until the best fit for the team is defined.

Discover why many Canadian and USA companies prefer hiring remote teams from Serbia and Macedonia. Tell us your needs and we will help you build an agile remote team. Arrange a free consultation today and we will get you started.

The post Remote Agile Teams Management – Success Story appeared first on Cosmic Development.